As we approach the holiday season, it’s very important for truckers to keep their eyes on their cargo. After all, tons of cargo moves around every holiday season, including a lot of expensive items like electronics. That’s why times like Thanksgiving weekend wind up being huge targets for cargo thieves. But how can truck drivers protect their cargo from people who want to steal it?
Take Precautions While Parking and Refueling
It won’t come as a surprise to hear that the vast majority of cargo theft happens while a truck is parked. Heist movies may have us believing that high-speed, highly coordinated thefts happen all the time, but that’s not the case. Most thieves don’t have those kinds of resources; instead, they simply go after easy targets.
Parked trucks are those easy targets. Whether at a truck stop or a gas station, thieves will often target these spots where drivers tend to let their guards down a bit. By staying vigilant and aware of your surroundings, you can prevent a lot of thieves from even targeting your truck. And choosing your parking spots wisely is another smart idea. Try to park in areas with good lighting or that are near buildings that may have security cameras. This leads us into our next tip:
Utilize Available Technology
There’s a ton of great technology out there that helps truckers keep their cargo as safe as it can be. From classic padlocks on the doors to dash cams, there’s a lot out there that can help keep your cargo safe. Even if these methods on their own wouldn’t do a ton to protect your cargo, drivers can mix and match these methods to create a more secure situation. And the more security measures you take, the less likely your truck is to get targeted! Again, thieves tend to be opportunistic with their targets. If you put up multiple barriers, the odds that you will be a target will go down significantly.
Protect Your Cargo With Insurance Coverage
Of course, you can’t prevent every possible theft. Over the course of your lifetime as a long-haul, short-haul, or last-mile hauler, someone trying to break into your vehicle is inevitable. This is why cargo insurance is so important for every trucker. Obviously, no one wants their truck broken into. However, with good insurance coverage, this won’t be a death sentence for your company or the company that you’re hauling for. Your insurance company will completely cover everything you lost and absorb those losses for you. That way, you can keep hauling, knowing that you did the right thing by protecting your cargo completely.
